Decomposition diary of a pig.[PIX]

[Eat Shit And Die]

Stages of decomposition

Decomposition of a corpse is a continual process that can take from weeks to years, depending on the environment. In this demonstration we have divided the process into stages, which are characterised by particular physical conditions of the corpse and the presence of particular animals. To illustrate the process of decomposition, we use the piglet as the model corpse. Piglets are used because a 40 kg pig resembles a human body in its fat distribution, cover of hair and ability to attract insects. These factors make pigs the next best things to humans when it comes to understanding the process of decay of the human body. The pigs in this website are newborn piglets (weighing about 1.5 kg) that have been accidentally crushed by their mothers - a key cause of death of piglets. Their bodies have been donated to science. Please note - this set of images contain strong graphic references and descriptions.

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Stages of Decomposition - Stage 1: The living pig

A live pig is not outwardly decomposing, but its intestine contains a diversity of bacteria, protozoans and nematodes. Some of these micro-organisms are ready for a new life, should the pig die and lose its ability to keep them under control.

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Stage 2: Initial decay - 0 to 3 days after death

Although the body shortly after death appears fresh from the outside, the bacteria that before death were feeding on the contents of the intestine begin to digest the intestine itself. They eventually break out of the intestine and start digesting the surrounding internal organs. The body's own digestive enzymes (normally in the intestine) also spread through the body, contributing to its decomposition.



Stage 2: Initial decay - 0 to 3 days after death. Fly attracted to the pig.

On an even smaller scale, enzymes inside individual cells are released when the cell dies. These enzymes break down the cell and its connections with other cells.



Stage 2: Initial decay - 0 to 3 days after death. Fly attracted to the pig.
Insect activity

From the moment of death flies are attracted to bodies. Without the normal defences of a living animal, blowflies and house flies are able to lay eggs around wounds and natural body openings (mouth, nose, eyes, anus, genitalia). These eggs hatch and move into the body, often within 24 hours. The life cycle of a fly from egg to maggot to fly takes from two to three weeks. It can take considerably longer at low temperatures.

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Stage 3: Putrefaction - 4 to 10 days after death. The pig has become bloated from the build up of gases within the body.

Bacteria break down tissues and cells, releasing fluids into body cavities. They often respire in the absence of oxygen (anaerobically) and produce various gases including hydrogen sulphide, methane, cadaverine and putrescine as by-products. People might find these gases foul smelling, but they are very attractive to a variety of insects.
The build up of gas resulting from the intense activity of the multiplying bacteria, creates pressure within the body. This pressure inflates the body and forces fluids out of cells and blood vessels and into the body cavity.



Stage 3: Putrefaction - 4 to 10 days after death. The bloated pig has now become attractive to a variety of insects.

Insect activity
The young maggots move throughout the body, spreading bacteria, secreting digestive enzymes and tearing tissues with their mouth hooks. They move as a maggot mass benefiting from communal heat and shared digestive secretions.



Stage 3: Putrefaction - 4 to 10 days after death. First instar fly maggots feeding just under the skin.

The rate of decay increases, and the smells and body fluids that begin to eminate from the body attract more blowflies, flesh flies, beetles and mites. The later-arriving flies and beetles are predators, feeding on maggots as well as the decaying flesh. They are joined by parasitoid wasps that lay their eggs inside maggots and later, inside pupae.

[username]

Waste of some pork chops there.

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Stage 4: Black putrefaction - 10 to 20 days after death. The pig's body has collapsed with black exposed surfaces and creamy flesh.

The bloated body eventually collapses, leaving a flattened body whose flesh has a creamy consistency. The exposed parts of the body are black in colour and there is a very strong smell of decay. A large volume of body fluids drain from the body at this stage and seep into the surrounding soil. Other insects and mites feed on this material.



Stage 4: Black putrefaction - 10 to 20 days after death. The pig is now very attractive to a variety of insects.

The insects consume the bulk of the flesh and the body temperature increases with their activity. Bacterial decay is still very important, and bacteria will eventually consume the body if insects are excluded.



Stage 4: Black putrefaction - 10 to 20 days after death. The body has collapsed.

Insect activity
By this stage, several generations of maggots are present on the body and some have become fully grown. They migrate from the body and bury themselves in the soil where they become pupae. Predatory maggots are much more abundant at this stage, and the pioneer flies cease to be attracted to the corpse. Predatory beetles lay their eggs in the corpse and their larvae then hatch out and feed on the decaying flesh. Parasitoid wasps are much more common, laying their eggs inside maggots and pupae.

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Stage 5: Butyric fermentation - 20 to 50 days after death. The pig is now very flat and beginning to dry out.

All the remaining flesh is removed over this period and the body dries out. It has a cheesy smell, caused by butyric acid, and this smell attracts a new suite of corpse organisms. The surface of the body that is in contact with the ground becomes covered with mould as the body ferments.



Stage 5: Butyric fermentation - 20 to 50 days after death. The pig is now very flat and beginning to dry out.
Insect activity

The reduction in soft food makes the body less palatable to the mouth-hooks of maggots, and more suitable for the chewing mouthparts of beetles. Beetles feed on the skin and ligaments. Many of these beetles are larvae. They hatch from eggs, laid by adults, which fed on the body in earlier stages of decay.



Stage 5: Butyric fermentation - 20 to 50 days after death. The pig is now very flat and beginning to dry out.

The cheese fly consumes any remaining moist flesh at this stage, even though it is uncommon earlier in decay. Predators and parasitoids are still present at this stage including numerous wasps and beetle larvae.

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Stage 6: Dry decay - 50-365 days after death. The pig has been reduced to hair and bone.

Insect activity
Animals which can feed on hair include tineid moths, and micro-organisms like bacteria. Mites, in turn, feed on these micro-organisms.



Stage 6: Dry decay - 50-365 days after death. The pig has been reduced to hair and bone.



Stage 6: Dry decay - 50-365 days after death. The pig has been reduced to hair and bone.

They remain on the body as long as traces of hair remain, which depends on the amount of hair that covers the particular species. Humans and pigs have relatively little hair and this stage is short for these species.

[Eat Shit And Die]

I hope everyone enjoyed todays science/pathology lesson.

Waste of some pork chops there.

Thank you user for your postings.

[username]

Well, I'm not sure I'm going to look at it on anything bigger than my phone.

[Duchess]

I hope everyone enjoyed todays science/pathology lesson.

I'm afraid to look. Once I saw that User posted I knew I could jump in at the end & not inadvertently see something.

[Eat Shit And Die]

Hey girlys GROW SOME BLOODY BALLS

[Duchess]

I didn't have a problem looking at your dead people, it's the dead animals that bother me.

[Eat Shit And Die]

Yeah but who gives a fuck about people anyway pffft.

[JsMom]

I was kinda grossed out but that was quite interesting. My son asked me what I was looking at and so I said a dead pig. He wanted to look too. My son is in love with anything Science. Anyways....Thanks for the lesson. haha

[username]

I was kinda grossed out but that was quite interesting. My son asked me what I was looking at and so I said a dead pig. He wanted to look too. My son is in love with anything Science. Anyways....Thanks for the lesson. haha

Yeah, you're on your phone too, twinkie.

[JsMom]

I was kinda grossed out but that was quite interesting. My son asked me what I was looking at and so I said a dead pig. He wanted to look too. My son is in love with anything Science. Anyways....Thanks for the lesson. haha

Yeah, you're on your phone too, twinkie.

You're damn right! I would not want to see that shit close up. My son might but I have no interest.

[ramseycat]

I'm not looking. No way.

[Maggot]

I have put fish heads in an airtight sealed bag and the worms come out anyways, they have them in them already inert ready for death. That's why I stay away from sushi.